Hubs overcome slow start to put away rival Rebels

February 24, 2011|By DAN KAUFFMAN | kauffman@herald-mail.com

By Colleen McGrath/Staff Photographer

HAGERSTOWN — It took a little while for North Hagerstown’s girls basketball team to figure things out Thursday night against rival South Hagerstown, but in the end the Hubs had too much firepower for the Rebels to handle in a 49-26 MVAL Antietam victory.

After missing its first five shots and committing five turnovers, South (4-17, 3-11) scored the first points of the game on Courtney Showe’s jumper with 2:43 left in the first quarter.

North (13-6, 12-2) missed its first 11 shots and committed eight turnovers before Autumn Fisher made two free throws with 2:07 left in the quarter. But Erika Kline hit a jumper and Quielanna Gantt turned two steals into layups to give the Hubs an 8-4 lead after the first eight minutes.

Iman Scott scored six of North’s 12 points in the second quarter as the Hubs took a 20-13 lead into halftime. Katrice Dickson scored five of South’s nine points in the quarter to keep the Rebels competitive.

But the Hubs pulled away with a 14-0 run to start the second half, and North outscored South 16-2 in the third quarter to take a 36-15 lead and end all suspense.

“We had a very slow start,” Hubs coach Cyndi Benjamin said. “We had a nice talk with the girls at halftime, and they picked up their intensity in the second half.”

Scott led North with 11 points and added three assists, while Gantt had 10 points, six steals, three assists and two blocks. The Hubs made 21 of 59 field goals and 5 of 10 free throws, and racked up a 41-26 rebounding advantage — led by Akatshi Osongo’s 12 boards. Meredith Perini had five of North’s 12 assists.

Kayla Freeman scored seven of her 11 points in the fourth quarter and added six rebounds to lead South. Katrice Dickson had nine points and six rebounds, and Lexi Turano added three steals and all three of the Rebels’ assists. South made 10 of 42 field goals and just 6 of 20 free throws.

“One of our big struggles is just someone stepping up on offense,” South coach Amy Deeds said. “The confidence level we need at the varsity level, my girls don’t have it yet. We’re just trying to fit the pieces together and build the program for years to come.”